Net Inspiration

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 21, 2000

Woodlands resident Reverend Christopher Ian Chenoweth is taking prayer to the masses by way of the Internet superhighway.

PositiveChristianity.org is one of the fastest growing prayer ministries on the Internet, Chenoweth said. Through the non-denominational Web site, Chenoweth answers prayer requests, sends free "daily inspirations" via e-mail and disseminates written sermons.

"When we started, it was first called a `national' prayer ministry," Chenoweth said. "We had to drop that name in a month-and-a-half and change it to 'international' prayer ministry. We do get requests from around the world."

According to Chenoweth, who runs the site with his wife, Jerri, three part-time staff members and a contract Web designer, he answers between 300 and 600 prayer requests each day sends out a new "Daily Inspirations" message each day to 147,238 e-mail addresses and sends non-denominational sermons to ministers from approximately 1,000 churches each Monday. These services are offered free of charge.

Other services offered on PositiveChristianity.org include hour-long prayer tapes on a variety of subjects (an $18 donation is requested for the tapes), hour-long counseling sessions (those who cannot afford the phone call are given an "800" number to use), and regular ministerial bookings in which Chenoweth will speak at weddings, funerals and churches, among others.

"I have never worked harder in my life," Chenoweth said.

And in this age of floundering Internet start-ups, Chenoweth is defying the odds. Before he launched the site in November 1999, an Internet consultant told him that he would never make it without a large advertising budget or a large capital outlay.

Chenoweth said they faced the odds, and simply listed the Web site on all Internet search engines. Within four days of the site's launch, it was featured as number one on Yahoo.com and was termed by the search engine, an "Internet phenomenon."

"It is just a miracle the way this has taken off," Chenoweth said.

The idea for PositiveChristianity.org came about while Chenoweth was serving on the Internet committee at the World Headquarters of the Unity School of Christianity at the Unity Village Chapel. Chenoweth served as senior minister there for 11 years.

Because "there was not much happening on the committee," Chenoweth said he felt he needed to start an Internet ministry himself. He left his position as senior minister in 1998 and began working on the concept for the new Web site.

One of his primary influences, said Chenoweth, is Norman Vincent Peale, who authored the book, "The Power of Positive Thinking."

Chenoweth said he personally answers, and prays with, all prayer requests. Because the site is non-denominational, requests come in from all over the world, and from people of various religious backgrounds.

"We have gotten prayer requests from around the block (from his house/office in The Woodlands) and they have no idea where we are," Chenoweth said. "All requests are kept completely confidential."

On Thursday, requests had come in from the U.S., Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Germany, Bulgaria, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, South Africa, Finland, Norway, the Slovak Republic, Indonesia and Israel.

Chenoweth said the number one request is for healing, the second is for relationships, the third for guidance and direction and the fourth for prosperity, financial need and career direction.

The ministerial service requests have also taken off. Each weekend, the Chenoweths travel to a different city to deliver a sermon, conduct a wedding ceremony or deliver a funeral service. In these cases, Chenoweth asks only that his travel expenses be paid.

"This is a church without walls," Chenoweth said. "I have no expenses, it is all about doing the work."

Future plans for the Web ministry include an all-inclusive cruise retreat in fall 2001, and a trip to the Middle East's Holy Land in spring 2002. The trips will be centered around spirituality, and will eventually have themes.

Chenoweth said they will also begin doing Web casts, so that people can tune in and hear a non-denominational sermon in their own homes.

He said he is doing all he can to keep up with the success of the Internet ministry.

"This has affected my life in a huge way," Chenoweth said. "I start work at 5:30 a.m. and, at times, go until 10 p.m. The biggest reward is to hear about prayers that have been answered."

Those interested in any of Chenoweth's services can log into the Web site at www.PositiveChristianity.org. Prayer requests are also taken by calling (713) 552-1290.

Chenoweth also conducts weekly prayer sessions (Tuesdays at 9 p.m.) in which people can pray together by logging on to the Web site.